Winter Wonders

These weren't here yesterday nor the day before. Now note, the temps have remained at the below freezing marks...in the 20s today and colder yesterday....so curiously I wonder what initiated the melting to allow for the icycle formations.

Perhaps....another natural wonder created for the mere pleasure of my photography discovery.

Through the Window

I came home a bit early today to prepare for a visit from a realtor to get input on whether it is a good time or not to try to sell. Well, I'm sure you all know the answer to that one. It's all good...it's all good. During my quick cleaning frenzy prior to their arrival, I also was wishing that I had more daylight hours before and after working hours in order to focus on this very important, and currently challenging and creative 'to do' that I have each and every....taking a photo...one simple photo. (...constantly reminding myself that daylight savings would start soon.) As I pulled open the curtains and rolled up the shades to dust off the window sills and let some light into the spare bedroom upstairs....this was very pleasingly smiling at me, giggling in joy, that I had found it....on the window....overlooking the streets...waiting so ecstaticly to be my next photo guinea pig. Mother Nature continues to amaze me.

(A black and white version)

PS...have I told you how much I am really enjoying my new Nikon???? ;-))

Winter Wonders

I'm very proud of this photo. Don't ask me how I did it. It just 'happened'. I'm guessing, those are the best kinds. This piece of ice broke off and tried to squeeze through this very narrow waterfall area and created a waterfall of its own. Peaceful, refreshing, cool...NOT...cold and icy.

I love bridges. I don't know why. They fascinate me. You cross from one end to another...and go from one world to another - to the other side of the river or lake, to the remainder of the trail, from one state to another, from city to village to town to urban to rural, county to county, country to country...from reality to fairy tale....Miami to the Keys....continents to islands....one world to another. One day to the next....not knowing what is really on the other side. There is something romantic about them.....'The Bridges of Madison County'; something mystic about them...a world of trolls and hobos, bats and pigeons ....rivers run through them...creeks....still flowing, frozen or all dried up. So many worlds...so many adventures.

Frozen Flow

It's fascinating to me....what Mother Nature can do. This drainage runs off of a house, where it allows rain to run into the river, continuously feeding the flow...when it does flow. It's been 'still' now for weeks on end...as if holding its breathe, waiting, ever so patiently for the warmth of life to return. Somedays, the sun will shine just enough allowing some warmth to melt some of the snow from the rooftop, feeding some slow meltings down the pipe, which get slower and colder every inch it gets closer to the river, itself frozen and lifeless, no movement except that of the snowmobilers leaving tracks on top of the frozen waters as they themselves frantically try to enjoy every day they can of this frozen tundra.

Urban Iceberg

The snow banks are all around us. Many of the parking lot exits and even side streets are lined with pile after pile after pile of snow. Many are difficult and dangerous to exit because you can't see the oncoming cars. On days when a little bit of warmth surrounds us from the few rays of sun that may exist, they slowly try to melt away, escaping into what ever drains they can find...and yet, the below freezing wind chill factors ever so lightly breathes on them, freezing them back, quicker than they can escape. And so...the urban icebergs remain to capture our attention for yet another month.